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.. , Cs.:,1.5.,_.Ld «.A U.S. Agriculture secretary issues drought disaster declaration for Colorado farms John Fryar Longmont Times -Call Posted: 07/03/2012 08:41:19 AM MDT Updated; 07/04/2012 07 :59 :32 AM MDT U.S. Agriculture Secretary Torn Vilsack on Tuesday issued a drought disaster designation for 62 of Colorado's 64 counties, making federal assistance available for at least some farmers and ranchers. Vilsack notified Gov. John Hickenlooper of the disaster declaration on Tuesday, according to members of Colorado's congressional delegation, who were alerted to the action on Tuesday morning. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reviewed loss assessment reports and determined that there were sufficient losses in 62 counties -- all of Colorado's counties except Delta and San Juan -- to qualify them as "primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought, excessive heat and high winds that occurred from Jan. 1, 2012, vilsack {, i and continuing," according to the letter. RELATED Longmont -area farmers welcome disaster declaration IN eld County farmers, ranchers could access federal lands Federal lawmakers seek help for parched Colorado farms, ranches Weld commissioners to the AG: Colorado law lets the governor allow emergency groundwater pumping Hickenlooper tells Weld commissioners he can't legally, allow groundwater pumping Weld Co. asks to meet with governor on drought Shaffer urges Hickenlooper: Let the farmers pump underground water • Weld farmers seek Gov. The disaster designation makes farm operators Hickenlooper's permission to eligible for assistance, including emergency loans, pump underground water onto from the federal Farm Ser %rice Agency, provided their fields other eligibility requirements are met. Hickenlooper, Nvho wrote Vilsack last week Even in dry summer, water restrictions unlikely for Longmont seeking assistance, said in a Tuesday afternoon statement, "This federal disaster declaration i%ill give farmers and ranchers in Weld County and nearly every other part of the state much needed relief." Farmers in eligible counties have eight months to apply for emergency loan assistance. The Farm Service Agency will consider each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of production losses, security available and repayment ability.